Painter is Strong, but Phils Offense Struggles

With lineups depleted by players being deployed to the WBC, the Phillies and Blue Jays played a rare 1-0 Spring Training game on Saturday. The good news was that Andrew Painter made his second appearance of the spring and it was another strong outing — three innings, allowing one hit. The down side was that the Phillies managed just two hits and were on the shutout end of the final score.

It took just 34 pitches (21 strikes) for Painter to work through the three inning outing, facing 10 hitters, thanks in part to Painter picking off Myles Straw at first. Straw drew a leadoff walk and Jesus Sanchez flew out to right for the first out before Painter caught Straw leaning for the second out. Eloy Jimenez then grounded to short to end the inning. The only other base runner came on a two-out single by Nathan Lukes in the second.

Painter’s velocity was good and he showed good command of his pitches.

Two players fighting for roster spots had the only Phillies hits and they came back-to-back in the sixth inning. Dylan Moore, who was batting eighth and playing first base, singled and DH Bryan De La Cruz followed with a single to put runners on first and second ahead of Trea Turner hitting into a 5-4-3 double-play.

Following Painter, Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks, Jhoan Duran, Zach McCambley, and Daniel Harper all delivered a shutout inning of work with Alvarado, Duran, and Harper all recording two of their outs by strikeouts. Banks and Harper threw perfect innings. Genesis Cabrera gave up a leadoff double to former Phillie Rafael Lantigua to open the ninth and one out later, Lantigua stole third base. With two outs, Jonatan Clase delivered a sacrifice fly to plate what would be the winning run.

Former Phillies prospects Connor Seabold opened his inning by hitting Cade Fergus with a pitch before he struck out De La Cruz, Erick Brito, and Cristian Cairo. Fergus was stranded at second after stealing a base.

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